BREAST SCREENING
Imaging
is an important component used to diagnose breast cancer and to evaluate the stage and extent of disease in breast cancer patients. Three major types of imaging are used in this capacity: mammography, ultrasonography, and breast MRI. Based on these exams, your physician may determine that no treatment is necessary or may recommend further tests or therapy.
Screening Mammography: A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray of the breast. This is the best test we have to screen women for breast cancer. A Screening Mammogram consists of two "pictures" of each breast. If an area on the mammogram looks suspicious or is not clear, additional mammograms with different views may be needed. Annual screening mammography is recommended for all women over 40 years old.
Diagnostic Mammography: This is a mammogram used for problem-solving, rather than for screening. For instance, if a patient has a lump in her breast, a directed investigation of that area is performed. This is also done when a particular finding in the breast is being followed over time. A Diagnostic Mammogram is tailored to the patient's case and is carefully monitored by a radiologist, who interprets the images and determines whether there is any need for further tests.
Ultrasonography: Using high-frequency sound waves, ultrasonography can often show whether a lump is solid or filled with fluid. This exam may be used along with Diagnostic Mammography or MRI to answer questions about a specific area of the breast. Because it uses sound waves instead of X-Rays, ultrasound provides information which is different and often complementary to the mammogram.
Breast MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can be used to look specifically at the breast. Each exam produces hundreds of images of the breast, cross-sectional in all three directions (side-to-side, top-to-bottom, front-to-back), which are then read by a radiologist. It is non-invasive and no radioactivity is involved. The technique is believed to have no health hazards in general. The hope is that such non-invasive studies will contribute to our progress in learning how to predict the behavior of tumors, and in selecting proper treatments. Breast MRI is an evolving technology and should not replace standard screening and diagnostic procedures (clinical and self exams, mammogram, fine needle aspiration or biopsy). It is used as a clinical exam tool to measure extent of disease and response to treatment. It is also being studied for other uses.
SELF EXAMINIATION
Examining Your Breasts
All women should check their breasts for lumps, thicknesses, or other changes every month. By examining your breasts regularly, you will know how your breasts normally feel. If a change should happen in your breasts, you will be able to identify it and let your doctor know.
USE THE SHOWER CHECK
Check your breasts about one week after your period.
Press firmly with the pads of your fingers. Move your left hand over your right breast in a circle. Make sure to check all over and include the armpit.
Now check your left breast with your right hand in the same way.
You should also look at your breasts in a mirror. Look for any changes in how your breasts look.
If you find any lumps, thickenings, or changes, tell your doctor right away. Most breast lumps are not cancer, but you don't know if you don't ask. Breast cancer may be successfully treated if you find it early.
This information was contributed by the American Cancer Society. For more information from the American Cancer Society, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345 or at the ACS website at www.cancer.org.
The American Cancer Society believes the use of mammography, clinical breast
examination, and breast self-examination, offers women the best opportunity
for reducing the breast cancer death rate through early detection. This
combined approach is clearly better than any one examination. The American
Cancer Society does not recommend relying solely on any of these methods.
EARLY DETECTION
American Cancer Society Guidelines
The following information on screening examinations and breast self-exams was contributed by the American Cancer Society.
The goal of screening examinations for early breast cancer detection is to find cancers before they start to cause symptoms. Breast cancers that are detected because they cause symptoms tend to be relatively larger and likely to have spread beyond the breast. In contrast, breast cancers found during screening examinations are more likely to be small and still confined to the breast.
The American Cancer Society believes the use of mammography, clinical breast examination, and breast self-examination, offers women the best opportunity for reducing the breast cancer death rate through early detection. This combined approach is clearly better than any one examination. The American Cancer Society does not recommend relying solely on any of these methods.
The American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer:
If you are age 20-39:
Have a clinical breast exam by your health care provider at least every three years
Do a breast self-exam each month
If you are age 40 and over:
Have a mammogram every year
Have a clinical breast exam by your health care provider every year
Do a breast self-exam each month
If you are age 55 and under:
ACS reccommends that you have Digital Mammograms to improve the imagery and detetction.
Have a clinical breast exam by your health care provider every year
Do a breast self-exam each month
Ask your health care provider to teach you the proper way to do a thorough breast self-exam.
If you have a history of breast cancer in your family, discuss mammography screening guidelines and scheduling with your health care provider.
 
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